Grace Subat

Dear Lawrentians,

I have been told many times how quickly our 10-week terms pass, and that sentiment didn’t quite hit home until I realized that we are three weeks from finals and our winter break. It seems like only a few short weeks ago that we welcomed our newest Lawrentians on Main Hall Green. Yet regardless of how quickly it seems we’ve made it to the latter half of fall term, my thoughts at this time of year always turn to reflection and gratitude.

Looking back at the first eight weeks of the academic term, I am proud of all that we have accomplished as a community. In addition to our new students, we have welcomed 10 new tenure-track faculty members to campus, new Men’s Basketball Coach Casey Korn, and new Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Eric Mayes. Associate Vice President for Enrollment Ashley Lewis will arrive later this month, and we are set to make an announcement regarding our new dean of admissions very soon.

The Science Learning Commons (formerly known as Youngchild 121) opened, providing a new interactive space to launch science learning. The renovation was part of the HHMI grant-funded Inclusive Excellence Initiative. Hundreds of community members came out to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with the dedication of Kaeyes Mamaceqtawuk Plaza and Otāēciah sculpture. Our College faculty have secured new national grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and National Endowment for the Humanities, and our Conservatory faculty and ensembles received two American Prize awards. Thanks to the hard work of LUCC and SOUP, our students gathered for a truly celebratory Blue & White Weekend, complete with food trucks, a pep band, and a carnival on Main Hall Green.

And I must give our Vikings student-athletes and coaches my thanks for closing October with a truly outstanding weekend of competition. The Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams qualified for the Midwest Conference Tournament, both for the first time since 2011. Both the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams won the Midwest Conference Championships—the women securing the conference title for the first time since 2001, and the men claiming their first conference championship since 2011. And the teams swept all awards at the championships, including individual title, newcomer of the year, coaching staff, and more. What a great time to be a Viking!

Reflecting on such bright moments, I can’t help but look back on my first four months with gratitude for the Lawrence community.

I am thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had to meet with Lawrentians, both near and far. All have deepened my knowledge of the university’s storied history, its many accomplishments, and our collective aspirations for its future.

I am thankful for our students who have shared with me their successes, frustrations, and hopes for their future. I am particularly appreciative of those students who have provided me with windows into their lives as I toured their residence halls and living spaces this fall.

I am grateful to our faculty who have continued to pursue excellence in both teaching and research even as they’ve adapted to the continuing challenges the pandemic brings to classrooms, studios, and laboratories.

Our staff, who rolled up their sleeves to prepare campus for the start of the term, helped facilitate surveillance testing and other safety measures, and addressed student needs during our return to campus, are all deserving of thanks. Their hard work is testament to their dedication to stewarding our campus and community.

Thanks also to alumni whose support for Lawrence shined through on Giving Day, helping us to raise nearly $2 million in support of our students and academic mission. I am grateful to the City of Appleton for their on-going collaboration and support in taking steps to make Appleton a more inclusive community. And I am especially grateful to our Board of Trustees for their thoughtful work and guidance at the start of my tenure at Lawrence.

Most important, I am grateful to all Lawrentians—students, faculty, and staff alike—who have volunteered to participate in the Guiding Coalitions and serve on the Strategic Equitable Enrollment Management (SEEM) team. The groups are already hard at work planning for our future, and the Strategic Planning Committee will soon begin its work evaluating the current strategic plan in preparation for creating the new one. And our community’s continuing dedication to Honor the Pledge and keep our campus safe is truly inspiring.          

I wish all members of our community well as we approach finals and the end of term, prepare to return to our homes, visit family and friends, and celebrate our holiday traditions. May the light of Lawrence be a beacon to us all during our time apart and welcome us safely back together in the new year.

Sincerely,

Laurie

Laurie A. Carter

President, Lawrence University

Dear Lawrentians,

As the campus settles into the rhythm of our new academic year, I too have started to settle into my own rhythm and take note of the distinct attributes of our community. For example, I give myself a few extra minutes to walk across campus during the noon hour because of the many familiar faces I see along the way. I also know that I’ll always hear music emanating from the Conservatory no matter the time of day I pass by its windows and that hammocks are a regular feature on Main Hall Green. Most important, I have witnessed first-hand the dedication of our faculty and staff as we begin a year unlike any other in Lawrence’s history.

I have also noticed how much our community cares, and I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your cooperation as we’ve launched an academic year as a fully in-person campus. We continue to adapt our policies and protocols in the face of an ever-changing pandemic, and your patience and dedication to Honor the Pledge as we adjust to living, learning, and working together once again is at the heart of our success.

The Lawrentians—students, faculty, and staff alike—who have stepped up to join one of our five Guiding Coalitions are also deserving of our sincere gratitude. Over the last week, the President’s Cabinet and I have worked with our co-leads to finalize coalition membership and formalize each group’s individual charge. The coalitions have already started their work, and I am heartened by the enthusiasm our volunteers have shown for this important work.

I am also heartened by how our community has embraced our anthem for the year, Brighter Together. From the t-shirts and masks I’ve seen across campus to the mentions I’ve heard at faculty and staff meetings, it’s clear that the power of community is one of Lawrence’s greatest strengths. A wonderful example of Lawrence at its brightest occurred this past weekend at the first President’s Tailgate at the Banta Bowl. Students joined me before the weekend’s home football and volleyball games and baseball scrimmage in support of our Vikings student-athletes. In addition to seeing so many excited fans at the Banta Bowl, the Conservatory’s Mariachi Ensemble played the tailgate and entertained the crowd during half-time, along with the ever-enthusiastic LU Cheer Team. College and Conservatory students united in support of our athletes—I can’t think of a better embodiment of Brighter Together. Thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday and to everyone who helped plan the celebration. Watch highlights of the day in this short video.

The coming weeks bring with them many more opportunities to safely gather and celebrate as a community:

• We will celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 11. Please participate in the events planned by LUNA to honor the day and join us for the official dedication of the Kaeyes Mamaceqtawuk Plaza and our newest addition to campus public art, Otāēciah, at 5:30 p.m. that evening. We will be joined on campus by the sculptor, Chris Cornelius, and members of the Wisconsin’s Native Nations as we honor the history of the land on which Lawrence resides.
• Our 8^th annual Giving Day on October 13 gives us the opportunity to support our university and our students and to recognize our generous donors. I look forward to joining with Lawrentians both on and off campus during the day’s festivities. Visit go.lawrence.edu/givingday to see how you can participate.
• In addition to faculty and student recitals, the Performing Arts Series recently kicked off a new season, with many more performances planned for the term, including the Fred Sturm Jazz Series. All performances are open to Lawrence students, faculty, and staff with valid Lawrence ID.
• And, of course, there’s Blue & White Weekend, October 22-24, which takes on more meaning as our students come together for the first time in more than a year. I encourage all students to participate in the weekend’s many festivities, including Friday’s dance and the tailgate at the Banta Bowl on Saturday, among other events. I’d love to see our faculty and staff out as well. And remember to wear your Lawrence gear!

This brings me to another opportunity for our pride in Lawrence to shine more brightly . . . Blue & White Fridays. Pull out your Brighter Together or Vikings athletics t-shirts or simply wear Lawrence blue and white each Friday. Plenty of gear is available in the Warch Campus Center’s Corner Store or the Vikings Online Store.

As was announced earlier this week, we are gearing up to welcome new faces to campus, including our new Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Eric Mayes. Active searches are also in process for the Dean of Admission, who is replacing Beth Petrie after her move to DePauw University, and a new position, Vice President for Enrollment, who will focus on student retention. We hope to share news of those hires soon.

At the same time, we are preparing to say goodbye to familiar faces and invaluable community members. Long-time Executive Assistant to the President Alice Boeckers and Events Coordinator Linda Peeters will be leaving the President’s Office at the end of the calendar year as they both retire from the university. On behalf of all members of our community, I’d like to thank them for their outstanding service to Lawrence. Personally, I am grateful to them for postponing their departure to aid me in a smooth transition. Opportunities to wish them well will be shared later this term.

I look forward to seeing you at one of the many upcoming events on campus this fall or along the Hurvis Crossing on a beautiful fall afternoon.

We are brighter together.

Sincerely,

Laurie

Laurie A. Carter

President, Lawrence University

Dear Lawrence Community,

There is much work for us to do together as we look to Lawrence’s future, and one of our most pressing needs this fall was our search for the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Today, we are delighted to announce that Dr. Eric Mayes will soon join the Lawrence community in this critically important role.

Dr. Mayes, who currently serves as executive director of the Center for Educational Equity within the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, will begin his duties in early November, leading the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He will work collaboratively across campus with faculty, staff, students, Board of Trustees, and alumni to strengthen its community, culture, and climate in its mission to be an equity-minded and antiracist institution. Dr. Mayes will also serve as a member of the faculty.

“This is an opportunity to be a part of important change happening at a critical time in both Lawrence’s history and our country’s history,” said Dr. Mayes, adding, “Lawrence is getting a collaborator, someone who values diversity, equity, and inclusion at an extremely high level, someone who is committed to the truest notion of a liberal arts education.”

From the beginning, Dr. Mayes was the most impressive among a strong field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals. He has a level of passion and commitment to DEI work that will be game-changing for Lawrence. In addition, his story of grit, determination, and resilience will allow him to serve as an excellent role model for our students while collaborating with faculty and staff to create an environment of belonging for all members of the Lawrence community.

Thank you to members of the search committee who worked so hard to help us find the right candidate for this position, as well as other community members, who met with candidates throughout our search process. You can read more about Dr. Mayes and his background in our news blog story announcing his new position at Lawrence.

As we look forward to Dr. Mayes’ arrival, the work addressing DEI issues at Lawrence continues. More information regarding the progress of that work since the spring will be shared with our community later this week.

I am truly excited to welcome Dr. Mayes to Lawrence. His contributions will add to our important work as we continue to shine brighter together.

Best,

Laurie

Laurie A. Carter

President, Lawrence University

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

Earlier this afternoon at Matriculation Convocation, I shared with our community a framework for a new way of collaboratively working together to strengthen our university. This framework was informed by the many conversations I’ve had with Lawrentians—students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and Appleton community members—since my arrival on campus and based on a model created by Dr. John Kotter. I write now to ask you to join me, the President’s Cabinet, and your fellow Lawrentians as we embark on this transformative journey together.

During my discussions with community members, I felt the deep love of and pride in Lawrence University, particularly when they described its many accomplishments achieved over the last year. These accomplishments pay testament to the strength and resilience needed to propel the university forward even during a challenging time. Yet we cannot lose sight of the many external factors, in addition to the pandemic, like declining applications, public discourse challenging higher education, and rising student loan debt, that challenge our strength as a university.

Lawrence has a strong foundation on which to face these challenges, but we must dig deep within ourselves to do more to move the university forward in such strong headwinds. Through our collective efforts, we must transform Lawrence into a university that is poised to lead in this new environment. And as the environment evolves, we must be nimble enough to evolve with it. 

As we look to our future, five overarching institutional priorities have emerged out of my conversations with Lawrentians:  Strategic Equitable Student Success; Brand Awareness, Reputation, and Elevation; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism; Enhanced and Integrated University Experiences, and Strategic Financial Stewardship. Helping us focus on and engage with these priorities as quickly as possible is where John Kotter’s model comes into play, becoming our catalyst for change.   
 
Kotter describes his change model in his book, “Accelerate.” The process involves a parallel construct. On one side, the traditional hierarchy of our university will continue to operate as we press forward with the day-to-day operations and honor our policies, processes and shared governance. At the same time, parallel to the traditional hierarchy, we will work through the steps of change using Kotter’s model of guiding coalitions, which has proven effective for so many organizations.

Bolstered by the sense of urgency that comes with the external challenges at hand, our guiding coalitions will serve as accountable, integrated groups bound by opportunity, strategy, and action. Consisting of a volunteer army of Lawrentians from across the university, they will form strategic visions and initiatives to move us forward. They will also work and be authorized to remove barriers so that they are able to generate short-term wins, sustain acceleration, and ultimately institute change.

Each coalition will be provided a charge and timeline for the work. Structurally, each will have co-leads (at least one faculty member and one staff member) who facilitate the group’s work and will consist of members from multiple layers of the university hierarchy and will represent all constituents—faculty, staff, students, trustees, and alumni. Members of the coalitions must have a sense of urgency and a commitment to the change initiative at hand. Our five guiding coalitions and their co-leads are:

• Visioning Our Five Priorities—Jason Brozek, Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs & Associate Professor of Government & Jenna Stone, Associate Vice President of Finance
• Full Speed to Full Need—Cassie Curry, Director of Major & Planned Giving & Jake Frederick, Professor of History
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism—Connie Kassor, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies & Jacklyn Fischer, Assistant Director, Career Center – Health Professions
• Athletics—Kim Tatro, Director of Athletics & Gary Vaughn, Lecturer in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Coordinator, Innovation and Entrepreneurship program
• 175th Anniversary—Ed Berthiaume, Director of Public Information & Lina Rosenberg Foley, University Archivist

All members of the Lawrence community have the opportunity to participate, step up and act like never before. Everyone, regardless of role, can engage in this process, and I truly hope that you will.

If you are interested in joining a guiding coalition, please email Alice Boeckers, executive assistant to the president, at alice.o.boeckers@lawrence.edu by Friday, September 24. And if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your Cabinet member or one of the leads listed above. Coalition membership will be finalized and communicated with campus by September 30.

Lawrence’s motto calls for Light! More Light! I ask each of you to bring your light to this process. I hope that you will join me and your colleagues and classmates to heed that call.

We are brighter together.

Sincerely,

President Laurie A. Carter

On behalf of the President’s Cabinet:

Christyn Abaray, Assistant to the President & Secretary to the Board of Trustees 
Ken Anselment, Vice President of Enrollment & Communications 
Alice Boeckers, Executive Assistant to the President 
Jason Brozek, Special Assistant to the President, Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs & Associate Professor of Government 
Christopher Card, Vice President for Student Life 
Calvin Husmann, Vice President for Alumni & Development  
Catherine Kodat, Provost & Dean of the Faculty 
Mary Alma Noonan, Vice President for Finance & Administration 
Brian Pertl, Dean of the Conservatory 
Megan Scott, Associate Vice President of Communications

Laurie A. Carter

President, Lawrence University

Dear Campus Community,

Yesterday evening I was made aware of two disturbing incidents involving Lawrence students and members of our surrounding community.

The first incident occurred at the Banta Bowl during a men’s soccer team practice session. The driver or passengers of a truck passing by the field shouted racial slurs at the team while they were practicing. The second incident took place on Wednesday evening, around 9:00 p.m., when a student witnessed a group of loud vehicles cheering and yelling racial slurs at the intersection of Lawe Street and College Avenue.

These incidents are not acceptable and are in direct conflict with our values as a community. We do not—and will not tolerate—this type of hateful behavior on or near our campus. I have spoken to Mayor Jake Woodford and know that he shares my concern and agrees that behavior of this nature has no place in our community. 

Security footage of Wednesday’s incident has been shared with the Appleton Police Department (APD), and we will continue to work with the APD to identify the individual(s) involved in the incidents. I am also committed to working with the City of Appleton, including the chief of police with whom I met this morning, to ensure that the safety of Lawrence students both on and off campus remains a top priority for the city.

My heart goes out to our students who had to endure such vile behavior, as well as to all members of our community who have had to endure similar experiences. We at Lawrence are a united community, and we will stand together to support each other even at our darkest moments. My colleagues and I pledge to work with our student, faculty, staff and community leaders, including Timber Smith, Appleton’s new diversity, equity, and inclusion coordinator, to plan a time for the campus and Appleton communities to come together in solidarity and to ensure that all Lawrentians feel a sense of belonging. We will share more information on this event in the coming days.

If you experience or see any further incidents of concern, please contact Campus Safety at 920-832-6999 or at security@lawrence.edu. Or if you witness a bias incident, fill out a bias incident report.  The Rave Guardian Safety App also provides easy access to safety and community resources. To learn more or to download the app, please visit the Lawrence website.

In addition, campus support services are readily available for all students, including Wellness Services, Dean Linda Morgan-Clement and Associate Dean Terra Winston in Spiritual & Religious Life, and Dr. Brittany Bell in the Diversity & Intercultural Center.

Whether you live or work on campus, Lawrence is our home. I look forward to joining with you to stand against hatred and bigotry and to find solace in the strength and resilience of our community.

Sincerely,

President Laurie A. Carter

Laurie A. Carter

Dear Lawrentians,

With the arrival of our fall athletes and Summer Institute participants, there is a renewed sense of energy and excitement on campus. This excitement and energy will grow when our international students arrive in early September, followed shortly after by our new and returning students. And with the majority of faculty and staff now working back on campus, the Lawrence community will soon be reunited for the first time in nearly 18 months.

I often say that I was drawn to the light of Lawrence—the light of knowledge, the light of truth, and the light each member of our community brings to campus. The points at which light intersect are always brighter than any individual light, and our strength as a community shines when we engage in challenging endeavors, share our talents, pursue our passions, and enjoy all that this rich and vibrant community has to offer.

We are brighter together. 

As the start of the academic year approaches, you’ll see and hear this phrase—Brighter Together—more frequently. In fact, I think of it as an anthem for this moment in Lawrence’s history and a reminder of our strength as a community. The strength has supported this university for the last 174 years, bolstered us during our current pandemic, and will propel us as we look to this coming year and beyond.

We will all adjust to new ways of engaging with each other as we navigate the ongoing pandemic. As I’ve heard many times over the last year, we can’t look to what we knew but, instead, must look to what is new as we live and learn together. We will continue to Honor the Pledge and adjust our lives to protect the health and safety of our community. 

Just last week, we announced the need to postpone the presidential inauguration planned for October to a time when we can more safely gather together as a community. I was truly looking forward to the inauguration and to celebrating Lawrence’s bright future, as well as meeting Lawrentians from near and far. Yet many opportunities still remain to celebrate our community, including the start of the academic year.

In honor of this historic return to campus, I ask that we show the world how bright Lawrence can shine.

• Let’s welcome our newest Lawrentians as they arrive on campus on September 8 and 9 by helping our Student Life colleagues greet them upon their arrival.
• Let’s gather together as a community to celebrate the start of their Lawrence experience at the annual President’s Welcome. The President’s Welcome will be hosted on Main Hall Green this year, and there’s plenty of room for all members of our community to join the festivities. Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 9 at 3:30 p.m.
• Let’s showcase how proud we are of our university by wearing Brighter Together t-shirts (we have one for every member of our community—staff, faculty, and students) during New Student Orientation.
• Let’s join together on Friday, September 17, as I deliver my first Matriculation Convocation in Memorial Chapel.

Vice President for Student Life, Christopher Card, will provide more information on ways you can help welcome our newest Lawrentians later this week, and the LU Insider will include additional information about opportunities to gather. I encourage you to share your warmth with our new and returning students.

We are Brighter Together, and I look forward to seeing us shine.

Sincerely,

Laurie

Laurie A. Carter

President, Lawrence University